Wild Apples

By Henry David Thoreau

In "Wild Apples," Henry David Thoreau delves into the history, symbolism, and beauty of this humble fruit, tracing its journey from ancient times to its untamed presence in the American wilderness. Thoreau's essay is more than a mere reflection on apples; it's a rich tapestry that intertwines nature, human culture, and personal contemplation. With characteristic insight and poetic flair, Thoreau explores the apple's role in history and mythology, its variations, and the joy of foraging wild apples in the New England landscape, revealing the profound connections between man and nature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Interactive Media
• Release date: May 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781911429203

Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American writer, thinker, naturalist, and leading transcendental philosopher. Graduating from Harvard, Thoreau’s academic fortitude inspired much of his political thought and lead to him being an early and unequivocal adopter of the abolition movement. This ideology inspired his writing of Civil Disobedience and countless other works that contributed to his influence on society. Inspired by the principals of transcendental philosophy and desiring to experience spiritual awakening and enlightenment through nature, Thoreau worked hard at reforming his previous self into a man of immeasurable self-sufficiency and contentment. It was through Thoreau’s dedicated pursuit of knowledge that some of the most iconic works on transcendentalism were created.

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Henry David Thoreau

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Henry David Thoreau

Wild Apples

Published by Adelphi Press

This edition first published in 2016

Copyright © 2016 Adelphi Press

All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 9781911429203

Contents

WILD APPLES

WILD APPLES

THE HISTORY OF THE APPLE-TREE.

It is remarkable how closely the history of the Apple-tree is connected with that of man. The geologist tells us that the order of the Rosaceae, which includes the Apple, also the true Grasses, and the Labiatae, or Mints, were introduced only a short time previous to the appearance of man on the globe.

It appears that apples made a part of the food of that unknown primitive people whose traces have lately been found at the bottom of the Swiss lakes, supposed to be older than the foundation of Rome, so old that they had no metallic implements. An entire black and shrivelled Crab-Apple has been recovered from their stores.

Tacitus says of the ancient Germans that they satisfied their hunger with wild apples, among other things.

Niebuhr[1] observes that the words for a house, a field, a plough, ploughing, wine, oil, milk, sheep, apples, and others relating to agriculture and the gentler ways of life, agree in Latin and Greek, while the Latin words for all objects pertaining to war or the chase are utterly alien from the Greek. Thus the apple-tree may be considered a symbol of peace no less than the olive.

[1] A German historical critic of ancient life.

The apple was early so important, and so generally distributed, that its name traced to its root in many languages signifies fruit in general. Maelon (Melon), in Greek, means an apple, also the fruit of other trees, also a sheep and any cattle, and finally riches in general.

The apple-tree has been celebrated by the Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, and Scandinavians. Some have thought that the first human pair were tempted by its fruit. Goddesses are fabled to have contended for it, dragons were set to watch it, and heroes were employed to pluck it.[2]

[2] The Greek myths especially referred to are The Choice of Paris and The Apples of the Hesperides.

The tree is mentioned in at least three places in the Old Testament, and its fruit in two or three more. Solomon sings, As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. And again, Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples. The noblest part of man’s noblest feature is named from this fruit, the apple of the eye.

The apple-tree